Les plaques émaillées d’Antoine Vollon
54 different enamel plaques depicting silk manufacture, by the Lyon artist Antoine Vollon.
Lyon has long been associated with the manufacture of silk. In the middle of the 19th century, new machines (‘dessiccateurs’) were invented for drying silk. Decorating the machines were beautiful enamel plaques by the Lyon-born artist Antoine Vollon (1833-1900). Amazingly, he was only 20 or 21 when this series of curved plaques was created. He went on to find fame and fortune as an artist in Paris. The 54 different designs in this pack cover all stages of the production of silk and provide a fascinating record of an ancient craft industry. The old coat of arms of Lyon is featured on the reverse, surrounded by a garland of flowers. See the box
Above: Les plaques émaillées d’Antoine Vollon playing cards made in the E.U. for the Musée des Tissus and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Lyon, Lyon, France, c2013. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 title card in tuck box. Size: 58 x 88 mm. Purchased in Lyon, December 2013.
Follow this link to see what the original plaques look like: plaques-en-fonte-emaillees-realisees-par-le-peintre-lyonnais-antoine-vollon/►
By Roddy Somerville
Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Related Articles
Pathé Marconi
Special promotion pack for French record company Pathé Marconi.
Archaic Spanish-suited pattern from Bayonne
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern from Bayonne by a manufacturer with the initals M.V.
Caisse Mutuelle d'Assurance et de Prevoyance
Insurance propaganda pack for Caisse Mutuelle d'Assurance et de Prevoyance with humorous artwork by ...
Jeu Révolutionnaire
Court cards and aces from a French Revolutionary pack by Pinaut, Paris, c.1794.
French Revolutionary cards by Pinaut
Seven cards from a French Revolutionary pack by Pinaut featuring characters from classical antiquity...
The European Interchanges Quartets
A card game based around motorway intersections from European countries.
Never Mind the Belote
Limited edition Belote pack with designs by a collective of 24 street artists.
Sannois dans les étoiles
Celebrities and buildings associated with Sannois, a commune in the suburbs of Paris.
Le Globe Céleste
Views and plans of five international exhibitions held in Paris between 1855 and 1900.
Le Journal de Mickey
Perforated sheet of cards with Disney characters issued with the magazine Le Journal de Mickey.
Tarot hiéroglyphique égyptien
The design of the cards draws inspiration from various religious and philosophical traditions merged...
La Réussite (Sébastien Féraut)
Sébastien Féraut’s designs inspired by the animal kingdom for a set promoting patience games.
Le Tarot de Sète
Reinterpretation of the Tarot de Marseille by Julien Labat, an artist from Sète.
Oracle Rock
Cartomantic set depicting rock and pop stars, designed by La Rata, with a book by Virginie Despentes...
Jeu Numismatique
European coins of all periods replace the traditional courts and pips.
Jeu Philatélique
Cards with French postage stamps featuring famous literary figures.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days
